Projects
Our projects reflect a commitment to maintaining a diverse and rigorous research portfolio spanning radiopharmaceutical development, molecular imaging, computational modeling, and preclinical validation. By pursuing complementary lines of investigation, we strengthen our ability to translate mechanistic discoveries into impactful diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Across all initiatives, we uphold the highest standards of scientific rigor and strive for excellence in both innovation and execution.
Featured
This project focuses on developing nuclear molecular imaging drugs for diagnostic imaging and thernaostics that selectively accumulate in infectious diseases within the body. By targeting heat shock proteins of the infection, we aim to differentiate inflammation and healthy tissue from active infection using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. These technologies hold promise for imaging and treating infectious diseases such as Lymes disease with precision.
We develop radiolabeled small-molecule probes targeting extracellular HSP90 (eHSP90) to enable highly selective cancer imaging and therapeutic intervention. By leveraging chelated radioactive isotopes, these probes allow tumor-specific uptake, real-time PET visualization, and targeted radiation delivery. This platform bridges molecular diagnostics and therapeutic radiopharmaceutical design.
This project investigates membrane blebbing as a dynamic indicator of cellular stress and therapeutic response. Using molecular probes and advanced microscopy, we characterize how drug-induced perturbations alter membrane mechanics, signaling cascades, and intracellular trafficking. These studies provide insight into early-stage apoptotic signaling and potential precision targeting strategies in cancer cells.
Using TOPAS-nBio Monte Carlo simulation frameworks, we aim to model and validate the current Haystead lab projects on a XXXX. From radiolabeled small-molecule therapeutics to Cherenkov and light activation during radiotherapy. These simulations quantify radiation dose distribution at the nucleus, mitochondria, and membrane level to optimize probe design and maximize therapeutic index across platforms such as laser light, Chernekov generated radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine. This computational platform integrates imaging, chemistry, and radiobiology in a precise way.